Pharmacies & medicine in the Netherlands

As with your general practitioner (GP), you will need to register with your local pharmacy (apotheek in Dutch). Here's what you need to know about pharmacies and medicine in the Netherlands. 

Filling prescriptions

It is possible to fill prescriptions at other pharmacies, but registering a regular pharmacy (by giving them your contact details and information about your health insurance) provides several benefits.

For instance, your GP may be able to email your prescription directly to the pharmacy, so you can simply pick up your medicine when you are ready. As they have a record of your prescription history, it gives the pharmacist the ability to check that you haven’t been prescribed conflicting medicines.

Some pharmacies can deliver medications to your home free of charge, while others also offer secure pick-up boxes accessible with a key, so you can retrieve prescriptions after hours. Many GPs also have a message service where you can order repeats of on-going prescription medicine, which you can collect from your pharmacy the next day.

Cost of prescriptions in the Netherlands

The price you pay for your prescription depends on two things: 

• The cost of the medicine
• The pharmacy service charge

The system for working out the cost of a medicine is a little complicated, because health insurers work together with pharmacists to set prices together. This means that the cost of each drug depends on your health insurer, your insurance policy, and your pharmacist. A pharmacy might charge different prices for the same drug to different patients, depending on who their insurer is. For some drugs, you might have to pay a personal contribution.

On top of this, your pharmacist might add on a pharmacy service charge (usually around 7 euros). This is for:

• Checking that the prescription is the correct unit dose and dosage
• Checking whether the medicine could interact with any other medications you are taking
• Dispensing the medicine
• Explaining how the medicine should be used

Service charges vary from pharmacy to pharmacy and according to the time of day. For instance, the service charge might be higher if medicines are dispensed outside regular office hours. Service charges are usually higher the first time a medicine is dispensed to a patient. 

Paying for your prescription

If the pharmacy you use is registered with your particular insurance scheme, you generally won't have to pay upfront for the medicine (although that depends on the particular prescription and your policy). Instead, they will send the bill directly to your health insurer. 

However, if they are not registered, then you will have to pay for your prescription yourself. You may be able to get the costs reimbursed by your insurance company at a later date. 

You can use the website Medicijnkosten.nl (in Dutch) to find out whether a medicine is covered by basic health insurance in the Netherlands, how much of the cost will be deducted from your eigen risico (mandatory excess), whether you will have to pay part of the cost (co-payment), and if a cheaper alternative is avalable that your insurance would cover in full. 

Non-prescription medicines

Pharmacists are able to give advice for minor complaints, while drogists (like Kruidvat or Etos) sell over-the-counter (non-prescription) medicines like paracetamol, ibuprofen and cold/flu remedies. You may be required to have a quick chat with the shop assistant about your symptoms before being allowed to purchase the medicine. 

Pharmacies opening hours

Opening hours for pharmacies vary, but the address of the nearest out-of-hours pharmacy will be indicated on the door. 

Some hospitals in the Netherlands have an onsite pharmacy where you can fill your prescription after you have been treated there, rather than going to your own pharmacy.